Connecting Toronto

October 27, 2017

Countdown on to opening TTC’s Line 1 extension

With just 51 days to go until the opening of the Line 1 subway extension, preparations are in full swing to get everything ready for the big day.

Featuring six fully accessible, Wi-Fi- and PRESTO-ready stations, a state-of-the-art signalling system and more than eight kilometres of new tunnels and track, the subway will extend beyond Toronto’s boundaries into York Region for the first time.

Finishing touches are now being applied to all six stations while, in parallel, testing and commissioning of assets and systems, trial operations and staff training are all underway.

This Saturday, you are invited to a preview of three of the new stations: Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, Highway 407 and Pioneer Village.

TTC and project staff will be on hand to show you around and to show off the features of these beautiful additions to Line 1.

Please note that the event, which runs from 1-5 p.m., is not accessible, as elevators and escalators are not yet commissioned and operational.

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday or failing that, when the subway extension opens on December 17.

You’re Invited…

With just seven weeks to go until the official opening of the Line 1 subway extension to York Region, the TTC is inviting the public to open houses at three of the new stations.

Transit and TTC about service changes and visit with other partners including BAI Canada and the City of Vaughan.

Architects and artists who designed and built the stations will be on hand, including Will Alsop (Pioneer Village Station architect), David Pearl (artist for Highway 407 Station) and Paul Raff (artist for Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station).

There will also be a barbecue lunch in support of the United Way at Pioneer Village Station.

Visit ttc.ca for more details about the open houses including parking, accessibility and shuttle bus service.

TTC Pilot marks major accessibility milestone

The start of Phase Three of the Family of Services Pilot on Oct. 23 marked a major milestone in the TTC’s journey to provide Wheel- Trans customers with more independent and flexible travel options. The pilot aims to help the TTC learn how its Wheel-Trans, bus and subway services can work together to provide Wheel-Trans customers with more freedom and spontaneity of travel. It is now more convenient for Wheel-Trans vehicles to drop-off customers at select bus stops across the city. The selected bus stops are along the 29 Dufferin, 85 Sheppard East, 84 Sheppard West, 95 York Mills and 97 Yonge routes, with plans to expand this to other bus stops along additional routes post-pilot. The next and final phase of the pilot begins in early 2018, and will include Wheel- Trans vehicles picking-up customers from the same select bus stops.

Learn more at ttc.ca/ wheeltrans.

Service alerts

Line 1 Yonge-University

This weekend, Oct. 28-29, Line 1 will close between St Clair and Lawrence stations as TTC crews perform track work. Shuttle buses will operate.

Wheel-Trans will be available upon request for customers requiring an accessible connection. Customers who require an elevator should get off the subway at York Mills Station and request Wheel- Trans from that location.

Regular service resumes Monday at 6 a.m.

Ongoing work

Queen Station continues to close at 11 p.m. until the end of November as crews continue install-ing new paddle-style fare gates with PRESTO.

The 501 Queen streetcar will continue to divert around construction at the intersection of Queen and McCaul Sts. while track work is completed. Shuttle buses are running between Bathurst and Jarvis sts.

For details on all TTC route diversions, subscribe to eAlerts or follow @TTCnotices on Twitter for up-to-the-minute advisories. For additional information about upcoming closures and route diversions, customers should visit ttc.ca.

I’ve always enjoyed working on infra-structure projects that have long term quality of life benefits, with significant short term challenges. I have lived in Toronto for most of my life, and have always been a TTC customer, so getting the chance to work with our communities on major infrastructure improvement projects at the TTC was a logical next step in my career. On a typical day, I liaise with neighbours, small business owners, community leaders, City Councillors, schools and partners in different City departments to discuss projects happening across the City. I also plan local neighbourhood meetings, events and online updates to share information about upcoming projects and to gain feedback from communities early on during the planning stages. You may see me out and about in your neighbourhood! It seems like it is always construction season in Toronto with road work, infrastructure and TTC improvement projects constantly moving forward on our streets. The good news is that my hometown is getting better every day.